BUILDING REPORT FOR PUBLICATION
Leonberg, 16.04.2015
Site of the G7 2015 Summit
Functional diversity with design flair in one of the most beautiful new hotels
Automatic GEZE door systems in Schloss Elmau Retreat
The five-star-superior hotel Schloss Elmau Retreat – Luxury Suites & Spa in Krün near Garmisch-Partenkirchen has recently been opened. Right at the start, this branch of the traditional Schloss Elmau Hotel gained a special honour: The heads of state and government of the seven most important industrial nations are to meet here for the G7 summit at the beginning of June 2015. GEZE has equipped this top-class hideaway with the most modern automatic doors.
In 2005, a major fire destroyed most of Schloss Elmau, which is a protected monument. Within two years the owner of Schloss Elmau, Dietmar Müller-Elmau, rebuilt it in the original style to new standards. The transparency and generous space with its many additional features, among them a concert hall, worked to the disadvantage of the number of rooms. For that reason, plans were laid during the reconstruction for an additional hotel. Secluded on the extensive property, Schloss Elmau Retreat-Hotel with its 47 suites is part of the central castle, while at the same time being a world of its own.
Designed by renowned Munich architects Hilmer & Sattler and Albrecht, the fundamental principles of the owner of Schloss Elmau remain present in all areas of the hotel, with luxury in the shape of refined simplicity, diversity and individuality. Using specially selected materials from all over the world, stately modern Art Deco architecture with subtle influences from Asia and Tuscany has been achieved.
A hotel as total work of art - top-class door automation by GEZE
"We decided on a spacious and convenient automatic circular sliding door system from GEZE as the link between the ambitious architecture of the façade and the ambience of the entrance lobby of Schloss Elmau Retreat.The door system, with four rounded glass leaves, fine-framed aluminium profiles and a ceiling canopy in discreet semi-gloss grey emphasises the elegance of the facade," architect Christoph Sattler said.
Architect Claudia Dressel of DBLB Architekten + Ingenieure in Munich, who is responsible for planning the renovation of the hotel, adds: "This custom-made structure, with its 360-degree drive system from the Slimdrive SCR series, which has been integrated into the ceiling canopy, combines the aesthetics of glass with all the requirements made of modern automatic doors.Despite the limited opening in the façade, a barrier-free, convenient 2.3-metre wide entrance could be created.The entrance head room of 2.65 metres and six circular glass elements on the side enhance the light and inviting atmosphere, as optimal use can be made of daylight."
Another delicate and discreet GEZE automatic door solution supports the design of a vestibule in the hotel lobby. Two fine-framed linear glass sliding doors from the Slimdrive SL NT series set one behind the other open onto the terrace with a view of the magnificent Wetterstein Mountains. The installation of the drive systems measuring only 70 millimetres in height on glazed wooden elements shows that the GEZE design classic fits any architecture and environment. As in other parts of the hotel, different materials and colours have consciously been combined: the bronze-coloured powder-coated aluminium profiles and drive housing of the glass sliding doors harmonise perfectly with the wooden elements.
Automatic door systems with Slimdrive drive mechanisms open and close with elegant ease and precision. They provide optimal ease of movement powerfully and quietly: opening intervals are suited to the frequency of the through traffic. If the flow of visitors increases, the leaves of the doors are kept open for correspondingly longer. The movement parameters of the door leaves can be adjusted individually. Automatic door systems from GEZE meet the most stringent specifications regarding safety in use and are type-tested and certified in accordance with DIN 18650 and EN 16005. The most modern control technology means that Slimdrive drive systems can face the future.
Design and ease of movement at Schloss Elmau Retreat are not achieved at the cost of safety in the event of danger. The door systems serve as escape and rescue route doors, and as fresh air openings in the event of fire. Equipped with special FR drive versions, they also open safely in the event of a power failure. In the event of danger, the unimpeded escape route can also be opened by pressing the emergency opening button. In addition, a special escape route locking device on the circular sliding doors at the hotel entrance allows closure from outside to inside.
The GEZE Slimdrive SCR circular sliding door system at the entrance, respectively in the lobby of the Schloss Elmau Retreat Hotels - view from the inside and the outside
The Slimdrive SL NT linear sliding door system from GEZE in the vestibule looking onto the viewing terrace at the Schloss Elmau Retreat Hotel - view from the inside and the outside